350 DISEASES OF THE INTESTINES. 



unrelieved constipation : such dung as passes^ coming from 

 the passages only which are posterior to the obstruction : 

 there also commonly is a good deal of flatus discharged, ac- 

 companied mostly with tympanitic distension of the belly. 



Effects. — It is surprising what a length of time these 

 cases will endure before death, which, though from the first 

 inevitable, coroes to put an end to their sufferings. One 

 case^ I had lasted thirteen days; another, eleven. These 

 days are critical. The colon is the seat of obstruction in 

 almost all such cases, though occasionally the rectum has 

 proved to be so. Sometimes it happens that, before death, a 

 passage of fseces takes place ; which appears to be owing to 

 relaxation of the spasmed intestine, around the calculus, prior 

 to dissolution. 



Treatment. — Supposing, from the animaPs habit of 

 feeding, or from some calculous matter having been observed 

 in his dung — circumstances both very doubtful in respect 

 to their presence or coming to our knowledge — we had some 

 reason to suspect the existence of stone, I hardly know how 

 such stone could be removed, unless it should so happen that 

 it lay in the rectum within reach of the hand. A brisk purge 

 might be tried ; but if the stone happened to be large and 

 heavy, this would not be likely to expel it. Strong acids 

 would dissolve the stone out of the body; but, in the strength 

 in which one would dare to give them inwardly, they would 

 certainly lose much, if not all of their power, by dilution and 

 neutralisation, before they arrived at the calculus. 



Hardened Masses of Dung have been known to collect 

 within the colon, and block up the passage through it as 

 effectually as though there had been a calculus; which, 

 purges and clysters, and every medicinal means that could be 

 devised, have failed to remove. As was alluded to on a 

 former occasion, Mr. King, of Stanmore, had a case of this 

 kind. Nothing had passed through the horse for thirteen 

 days ; and he had strong reason for believing that such was 

 the nature of the stoppage. The animal's fate was sealed. 

 Mr. King determined, as a last expedient, to make an open- 

 ' Published in the ' Veterinarian ' for 1852, vol. xxv, p. 177. 



